When can I stop treatment for multiple myeloma?
The answer is not quite clear-cut. People who are very good candidates to stop treatment will have something known as MRD (minimally residual disease) negativity. This means that after searching for cell markers, or the underlying DNA of myeloma cells, patients have less than one myeloma cell per million bone marrow cells. Dr. Nina Shah, hematologist at UCSF, explains that this still doesn’t mean you can completely stop seeing your oncologist.
“Is that good enough to stop treatment? We don’t have that answer, yet. I’d say that if you’re considering stopping treatment because your doctor has told you that you are MRD negative, it’s really important that you continue close follow-up every three months at least, so that you can understand if your markers change to quickly consider getting back on treatment.”
MRD negativity tests are currently the most sensitive method of detecting cancer cells for multiple myeloma. This increased sensitivity has made it easier for physicians to determine when your cancer has very low chances of coming back. However, the line is still blurred. There are both risks and benefits to receiving treatment after achieving MRD negativity. On one hand, continuing to administer treatment after patients have achieved MRD negativity can safeguard against a relapse ever occurring. On the other hand, there is a high risk of over-treatment in treating patients with MRD negativity, which can result in serious side effects like deadly infection. Ultimately, the decision to continue or halt treatment should be a collaborative discussion with your physician and family.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Nina Shah is a hematologist who specializes in the treatment of multiple myeloma, a type of cancer affecting the blood marrow. She treats patients at the Hematology and Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinic. Read More
When can I stop treatment for multiple myeloma?
The answer is not quite clear-cut. People who are very good candidates to stop treatment will have something known as MRD (minimally residual disease) negativity. This means that after searching for cell markers, or the underlying DNA of myeloma cells, patients have less than one myeloma cell per million bone marrow cells. Dr. Nina Shah, hematologist at UCSF, explains that this still doesn’t mean you can completely stop seeing your oncologist.
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“Is that good enough to stop treatment? We don’t have that answer, yet. I’d say that if you’re considering stopping treatment because your doctor has told you that you are MRD negative, it’s really important that you continue close follow-up every three months at least, so that you can understand if your markers change to quickly consider getting back on treatment.”
MRD negativity tests are currently the most sensitive method of detecting cancer cells for multiple myeloma. This increased sensitivity has made it easier for physicians to determine when your cancer has very low chances of coming back. However, the line is still blurred. There are both risks and benefits to receiving treatment after achieving MRD negativity. On one hand, continuing to administer treatment after patients have achieved MRD negativity can safeguard against a relapse ever occurring. On the other hand, there is a high risk of over-treatment in treating patients with MRD negativity, which can result in serious side effects like deadly infection. Ultimately, the decision to continue or halt treatment should be a collaborative discussion with your physician and family.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Nina Shah is a hematologist who specializes in the treatment of multiple myeloma, a type of cancer affecting the blood marrow. She treats patients at the Hematology and Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinic. Read More
